Stabilized storage bin

ABSTRACT

A relatively tall, narrow storage bin including a pivotable stabilizing base rotatable from a stored position substantially congruent with the base to an open stabilizing position normal to the base and including means to secure the base in position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to storage bins, and in particular to storage bins which are intended to be used as working units in classrooms or libraries, and in particular to storage bins which are intended for magazines or workbooks stored in a vertical fashion such that the bin is tall and narrow and includes a stabilizing element which may be positioned parallel to the bottom of the bin for storage and normal to the bottom of the bin for stabilization during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage bins of various sizes and shapes are well known and utilized in classrooms and workshops to organize material for storage and enabling the user to readily locate, remove from storage and utilize the material. It is inherently important that the storage devices not only contain the material but enable the efficient storage of the material and facilitate the utilization of the material.

A storage device including a rotating top for entirely different purposes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,307 granted Jan. 14, 1975 to Postel.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With the above-noted prior art in mind, the present invention is designed to provide efficient and compact storage in a unit that can be easily removed from storage and used as a workpiece, wherein the unit includes integral means to improve stability during use.

The invention further provides a storage unit which is relatively tall and thin, thereby minimizing the amount of storage space required, while including a base member which is congruent with the bottom of the bin during storage and through limited rotation provides stability for the unit when it is standing alone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the storage unit with the stabilizing base in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the storage unit with the stabilizing base in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the stabilizing base.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the stabilizing base.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the base.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the base.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the storage unit.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the storage unit.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the storage unit.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the slightly modified storage unit with the base in the stabilizing position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As seen in FIG. 1, the bin 2 includes a vertical side 4, front end 6, rear end 8 and bottom 10. Secured to the bottom 10 at a central location 12 is a stabilizing base, including outwardly extending ends 14, including upwardly extending fin 16.

Reference is now had to FIG. 2, wherein the front elevation is shown, including a label member 18 and the pivot point 12, upwardly extending fin 16 and opposing fin 20.

The stabilizing base is seen in FIGS. 3-6 and includes a flat flexible base element 22 (wings 14), including downwardly protruding feet 24, a centrally located hole 26, a pair of notches 28 and a pair of bores 30, which center lines are on the same radius as the center lines of the notches 28.

The bin itself is seen in FIGS. 7-9 and further as seen in these views are feet 32 and downwardly extending dimple 34. The bores 30 and the notches 28 mate with the dimple 34 to retain the base in the closed or the extended position.

Reference is now had to FIG. 10, wherein the bin 2 is shown with the stabilizing base 14 normal to the bottom of the bin, providing stabilization. It is to be noted that the feet 32 forming part of the bin are in the same plane as the feet 24 on the stabilizing base.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow. 

1. A stabilized storage bin, comprising: a rectangular bin element having a bottom and four sides that is taller than it is wide, said bin element including a pivot point at the center of the bottom and a plurality of downwardly projecting rigid bubbles on the lower surface; and a stabilizing element of thin material, said stabilizing element approximately the same dimension as the bottom of the bin, pivotably secured at the pivot point and including openings to selectively receive the rigid bubbles to secure the relative positions of the bin and the stabilizing element, said stabilizing element selectively secured in the stored position beneath the bottom and the stabilizing position at right angles to the long dimension of the bottom.
 2. A stabilized storage bin, comprising: a substantially rectangular, relatively deep open top storage unit, including a bottom, outwardly flared sides and ends, wherein the ends are of a lesser dimension than the sides, said bottom including a central pivot point and at least one downwardly protruding dimple; and a stabilizing element pivotably secured to the bottom of the storage unit, said element substantially congruent with the bottom, and including at least one detent to selectively receive the dimple to secure the relative position of the storage unit and the stabilizing element.
 3. A stabilized storage bin as in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing element includes means to secure it in a normal position perpendicular to the bin bottom.
 4. A stabilized storage bin as in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing element includes at least one upwardly projecting extension preventing relative rotation between the stabilizing element and the bin in one direction. 